WARNING: spoilers ahead. Some messages reveal story details.
There are three tables of strings. The strings are encrypted (with a simple exclusive-OR) and tokenized. Each token may be a plain character, an index into a table of two-letter digrams, a reference to another message, or an internal function.
This site explains how "flight" strings are encoded. "Docked" strings are similar.
All strings are encoded in upper case, and converted to lower case by algorithm (and possibly forced back to upper case if configured to do so). The string extractor I threw together to generate this list attempted to do something reasonable and occasionally succeeded.
In the output, "[lf]" means linefeed, "[ff]" means form-feed, and "[nl]" means newline. There are various other text substitutions, including "[cmdr-nam]" (the commander name entered by the player), "[gal#]" (galaxy number), "[cur-planet]" (name of current planet), "[sel-planet]" (name of selected planet), and "[beep]" (makes a sound when printed). The "docked" string section has some substitutions that tie into the procedural planet generation mechanism.
| Index | Token | Message |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | $a0 | Fuel Scoops On [beep] |
| 1 | $a1 | Chart |
| 2 | $a2 | Government |
| 3 | $a3 | Data On [sel-planet] |
| 4 | $a4 | Inventory[lf] |
| 5 | $a5 | System |
| 6 | $a6 | Price |
| 7 | $a7 | [cur-planet] Market Prices |
| 8 | $a8 | Industrial |
| 9 | $a9 | Agricultural |
| 10 | $aa | Rich |
| 11 | $ab | Average |
| 12 | $ac | Poor |
| 13 | $ad | Mainly |
| 14 | $ae | Unit |
| 15 | $af | View |
| 16 | $b0 | Quantity |
| 17 | $b1 | Anarchy |
| 18 | $b2 | Feudal |
| 19 | $b3 | Multi-Government |
| 20 | $b4 | Dictatorship |
| 21 | $b5 | Communist |
| 22 | $b6 | Confederacy |
| 23 | $b7 | Democracy |
| 24 | $b8 | Corporate State |
| 25 | $b9 | Ship |
| 26 | $ba | Product |
| 27 | $bb | Laser |
| 28 | $bc | Human Colonial |
| 29 | $bd | Hyperspace |
| 30 | $be | Short Range Chart |
| 31 | $bf | Distance |
| 32 | $c0 | Population |
| 33 | $c1 | Gross Productivity |
| 34 | $c2 | Economy |
| 35 | $c3 | Light Years |
| 36 | $c4 | Tech.Level |
| 37 | $c5 | Cash |
| 38 | $c6 | Billion |
| 39 | $c7 | Galactic Chart [gal#] |
| 40 | $c8 | Target Lost |
| 41 | $c9 | Missile Jammed |
| 42 | $ca | Range |
| 43 | $cb | St |
| 44 | $cc | Quantity Of |
| 45 | $cd | Sell |
| 46 | $ce | Cargo |
| 47 | $cf | Equip |
| 48 | $d0 | Food |
| 49 | $d1 | Textiles |
| 50 | $d2 | Radioactives |
| 51 | $d3 | Slaves |
| 52 | $d4 | Liquor/Wines |
| 53 | $d5 | Luxuries |
| 54 | $d6 | Narcotics |
| 55 | $d7 | Computers |
| 56 | $d8 | Machinery |
| 57 | $d9 | Alloys |
| 58 | $da | Firearms |
| 59 | $db | Furs |
| 60 | $dc | Minerals |
| 61 | $dd | Gold |
| 62 | $de | Platinum |
| 63 | $df | Gem-Stones |
| 64 | $e0 | Alien Items |
| 65 | $e1 | [lf] 10$$$$$$$.0 Cr 5$$$$$$$.0 Cr |
| 66 | $e2 | Cr |
| 67 | $e3 | Large |
| 68 | $e4 | Fierce |
| 69 | $e5 | Small |
| 70 | $e6 | Green |
| 71 | $e7 | Red |
| 72 | $e8 | Yellow |
| 73 | $e9 | Blue |
| 74 | $ea | Black |
| 75 | $eb | Harmless |
| 76 | $ec | Slimy |
| 77 | $ed | Bug-Eyed |
| 78 | $ee | Horned |
| 79 | $ef | Bony |
| 80 | $f0 | Fat |
| 81 | $f1 | Furry |
| 82 | $f2 | Rodent |
| 83 | $f3 | Frog |
| 84 | $f4 | Lizard |
| 85 | $f5 | Lobster |
| 86 | $f6 | Bird |
| 87 | $f7 | Humanoid |
| 88 | $f8 | Feline |
| 89 | $f9 | Insect |
| 90 | $fa | Average Radius |
| 91 | $fb | Com |
| 92 | $fc | Commander |
| 93 | $fd | Destroyed |
| 94 | $fe | Ro |
| 95 | $ff | Unit Quantity[lf] Product Unit Price For Sale[lf] [nl] |
| 96 | $60 | Front |
| 97 | $61 | Rear |
| 98 | $62 | Left |
| 99 | $63 | Right |
| 100 | $64 | Energy Low[beep] |
| 101 | $65 | Right On Commander! |
| 102 | $66 | Extra |
| 103 | $67 | Pulse Laser |
| 104 | $68 | Beam Laser |
| 105 | $69 | Fuel |
| 106 | $6a | Missile |
| 107 | $6b | Large Cargo Bay |
| 108 | $6c | E.C.M.System |
| 109 | $6d | Extra Pulse Lasers |
| 110 | $6e | Extra Beam Lasers |
| 111 | $6f | Fuel Scoops |
| 112 | $70 | Escape Pod |
| 113 | $71 | Energy Bomb |
| 114 | $72 | Energy Unit |
| 115 | $73 | Docking Computers |
| 116 | $74 | Galactic Hyperspace |
| 117 | $75 | Military Laser |
| 118 | $76 | Mining Laser |
| 119 | $77 | Cash:$$$$$$$.0 Cr |
| 120 | $78 | Incoming Missile |
| 121 | $79 | Energy |
| 122 | $7a | Galactic |
| 123 | $7b | Docking Computers On |
| 124 | $7c | All |
| 125 | $7d | $$$$$$$.0 Cr Legal Status: |
| 126 | $7e | Commander [cmdr-nam][lf] [lf] [lf] Present System :[cur-planet][lf] Hyperspace System :[sel-planet][lf] Condition : |
| 127 | $7f | Item |
| 128 | $0e | |
| 129 | $0f | Ll |
| 130 | $10 | Rating: |
| 131 | $11 | On |
| 132 | $12 | [lf] EQUIPMENT: |
| 133 | $13 | Clean |
| 134 | $14 | Offender |
| 135 | $15 | Fugitive |
| 136 | $16 | Harmless |
| 137 | $17 | Mostly Harmless |
| 138 | $18 | Poor |
| 139 | $19 | Average |
| 140 | $1a | Above Average |
| 141 | $1b | Competent |
| 142 | $1c | Dangerous |
| 143 | $1d | Deadly |
| 144 | $1e | ---- E L I T E ---- |
| 145 | $1f | Present |
| 146 | GAME OVER |
| Index | Token | Message |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | ||
| 1 | [clr] DISK ACCESS MENU[ff][lf][lf]1. LOAD NEW COMMANDER[ff][lf]2. SAVE COMMANDER [cmdr-nam][ff][lf]3. DEFAULT JAMESON[ff][lf]4. EXIT[ff][lf] | |
| 2 | ||
| 3 | ||
| 4 | COMPETITION NUMBER: | |
| 5 | [buffer ON][planet6d] is [planet6e].[ff][buffer OFF] | |
| 6 | LOAD NEW COMMANDER (Y/N)?[ff][ff] | |
| 7 | PRESS SPACE OR FIRE,COMMANDER.[ff][ff] | |
| 8 | COMMANDER'S NAME? | |
| 9 | [ff]ILLEGAL ELITE II FILE | |
| 10 | [buffer ON]GREETINGS COMMANDER [cmdr-nam], I am CAPTAIN [navy-cap-name] of HER MAJESTY'S SPACE NAVY and I beg a moment of your valuable time.[ff] We would like you to do a little job for us.[ff] The ship you see here is a new model, the Constrictor, equiped with a top secret new shield generator.[ff] Unfortunately it's been stolen.[ff] [waitkey]It went missing from our ship yard on Xeer five months ago and [believed-to-have-jumped].[ff] Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to seek and destroy this ship.[ff] You are cautioned that only MILITARY LASERs will penetrate the new shields and that the Constrictor is fitted with an E.C.M.SYSTEM.[ff][buffer OFF]GOOD LUCK, COMMANDER.[ff][buffer OFF] MESSAGE ENDS[waitkey] | |
| 11 | INCOMING MESSAGE[buffer ON] ATTENTION COMMANDER [cmdr-nam], I am CAPTAIN [navy-cap-name] of HER MAJESTY'S SPACE NAVY. We have need of your services again.[ff] If you would be so good as to go to Ceerdi you will be briefed.[ff] If successful, you will be well rewarded.[ff][buffer OFF] MESSAGE ENDS[waitkey] | |
| 12 | (C) D.BRABEN & I.BELL 1985 | |
| 13 | BY D.BRABEN & I.BELL | |
| 14 | [func15]PLANET NAME? [input-name] | |
| 15 | INCOMING MESSAGE[buffer ON] CONGRATULATIONS COMMANDER![ff][ff]THERE will always be a place for you in HER MAJESTY'S SPACE NAVY.[ff] And maybe sooner than you think...[ff][buffer OFF] MESSAGE ENDS[waitkey] | |
| 16 | FABLED | |
| 17 | NOTABLE | |
| 18 | WELL KNOWN | |
| 19 | FAMOUS | |
| 20 | NOTED | |
| 21 | VERY | |
| 22 | MILDLY | |
| 23 | MOST | |
| 24 | REASONABLY | |
| 25 | ||
| 26 | ANCIENT | |
| 27 | [planet72] | |
| 28 | GREAT | |
| 29 | VAST | |
| 30 | PINK | |
| 31 | [planet77] [planet76] plantations | |
| 32 | MOUNTAINS | |
| 33 | [planet75] | |
| 34 | [planet80] FORESTS | |
| 35 | OCEANS | |
| 36 | SHYNESS | |
| 37 | SILLINESS | |
| 38 | MATING TRADITIONS | |
| 39 | LOATHING OF [planet64] | |
| 40 | LOVE FOR [planet64] | |
| 41 | FOOD BLENDERS | |
| 42 | TOURISTS | |
| 43 | POETRY | |
| 44 | DISCOS | |
| 45 | [planet6c] | |
| 46 | WALKING TREE | |
| 47 | CRAB | |
| 48 | BAT | |
| 49 | LOBST | |
| 50 | [rnd-name] | |
| 51 | BESET | |
| 52 | PLAGUED | |
| 53 | RAVAGED | |
| 54 | CURSED | |
| 55 | SCOURGED | |
| 56 | [planet71] CIVIL WAR | |
| 57 | [planet68] [planet5f] [planet60]S | |
| 58 | A [planet68] DISEASE | |
| 59 | [planet71] EARTHQUAKES | |
| 60 | [planet71] SOLAR ACTIVITY | |
| 61 | ITS [planet5d] [planet5e] | |
| 62 | THE [species-ian] [planet5f] [planet60] | |
| 63 | ITS INHABITANTS' [planet62] [planet63] | |
| 64 | [planet7a] | |
| 65 | ITS [planet6b] [planet6c] | |
| 66 | JUICE | |
| 67 | BRANDY | |
| 68 | WATER | |
| 69 | BREW | |
| 70 | GARGLE BLASTERS | |
| 71 | [rnd-name] | |
| 72 | [species-ian] [planet60] | |
| 73 | [species-ian] [rnd-name] | |
| 74 | [species-ian] [planet68] | |
| 75 | [planet68] [rnd-name] | |
| 76 | FABULOUS | |
| 77 | EXOTIC | |
| 78 | HOOPY | |
| 79 | UNUSUAL | |
| 80 | EXCITING | |
| 81 | CUISINE | |
| 82 | NIGHT LIFE | |
| 83 | CASINOS | |
| 84 | SIT COMS | |
| 85 | [planet7a] | |
| 86 | [sel-planet] | |
| 87 | THE PLANET [sel-planet] | |
| 88 | THE WORLD [sel-planet] | |
| 89 | THIS PLANET | |
| 90 | THIS WORLD | |
| 91 | SON OF A BITCH | |
| 92 | SCOUNDREL | |
| 93 | BLACKGUARD | |
| 94 | ROGUE | |
| 95 | WHORESON BEETLE HEADED FLAP EAR'D KNAVE | |
| 96 | N UNREMARKABLE | |
| 97 | BORING | |
| 98 | DULL | |
| 99 | TEDIOUS | |
| 100 | REVOLTING | |
| 101 | PLANET | |
| 102 | WORLD | |
| 103 | PLACE | |
| 104 | LITTLE PLANET | |
| 105 | DUMP | |
| 106 | I HEAR A [planet72] LOOKING SHIP APPEARED AT ERRIUS | |
| 107 | YEAH, I HEAR A [planet72] SHIP LEFT ERRIUS A WHILE BACK | |
| 108 | GET YOUR IRON ASS OVER TO ERRIUS | |
| 109 | SOME [planet73] NEW SHIP WAS SEEN AT ERRIUS | |
| 110 | TRY ERRIUS | |
| 111 | ||
| 112 | ||
| 113 | ||
| 114 | ||
| 115 | WASP | |
| 116 | MOTH | |
| 117 | GRUB | |
| 118 | ANT | |
| 119 | [rnd-name] | |
| 120 | POET | |
| 121 | ARTS GRADUATE | |
| 122 | YAK | |
| 123 | SNAIL | |
| 124 | SLUG | |
| 125 | TROPICAL | |
| 126 | DENSE | |
| 127 | RAIN | |
| 128 | IMPENETRABLE | |
| 129 | $81 | EXUBERANT |
| 130 | $82 | FUNNY |
| 131 | $83 | WEIRD |
| 132 | $84 | UNUSUAL |
| 133 | $85 | STRANGE |
| 134 | $86 | PECULIAR |
| 135 | $87 | FREQUENT |
| 136 | $88 | OCCASIONAL |
| 137 | $89 | UNPREDICTABLE |
| 138 | $8a | DREADFUL |
| 139 | $8b | DEADLY |
| 140 | $8c | [planet5c] [planet5b] FOR [planet65] |
| 141 | $8d | [planet5c] [planet5b] FOR [planet65] AND [planet65] |
| 142 | $8e | [planet66] BY [planet67] |
| 143 | $8f | [planet5c] [planet5b] FOR [planet65] BUT [planet66] BY [planet67] |
| 144 | $90 | A[planet6f] [planet70] |
| 145 | $91 | PLANET |
| 146 | $92 | WORLD |
| 147 | $93 | THE |
| 148 | $94 | THIS |
| 149 | $95 | LOAD NEW COMMANDER |
| 150 | $96 | [clr] |
| 151 | $97 | DRIVE |
| 152 | $98 | CATALOGUE |
| 153 | $99 | IAN |
| 154 | $9a | COMMANDER |
| 155 | $9b | [planet68] |
| 156 | $9c | MOUNTAIN |
| 157 | $9d | EDIBLE |
| 158 | $9e | TREE |
| 159 | $9f | SPOTTED |
| 160 | $a0 | [planet78] |
| 161 | $a1 | [planet79] |
| 162 | $a2 | [planet61]OID |
| 163 | $a3 | [planet7f] |
| 164 | $a4 | [planet7e] |
| 165 | $a5 | ANCIENT |
| 166 | $a6 | EXCEPTIONAL |
| 167 | $a7 | ECCENTRIC |
| 168 | $a8 | INGRAINED |
| 169 | $a9 | [planet72] |
| 170 | $aa | KILLER |
| 171 | $ab | DEADLY |
| 172 | $ac | EVIL |
| 173 | $ad | LETHAL |
| 174 | $ae | VICIOUS |
| 175 | $af | ITS |
| 176 | $b0 | [buffer ON] |
| 177 | $b1 | .[ff][buffer OFF] |
| 178 | $b2 | AND |
| 179 | $b3 | YOU |
| 180 | $b4 | PARKING METERS |
| 181 | $b5 | DUST CLOUDS |
| 182 | $b6 | ICE BERGS |
| 183 | $b7 | ROCK FORMATIONS |
| 184 | $b8 | VOLCANOES |
| 185 | $b9 | PLANT |
| 186 | $ba | TULIP |
| 187 | $bb | BANANA |
| 188 | $bc | CORN |
| 189 | $bd | [rnd-name]WEED |
| 190 | $be | [rnd-name] |
| 191 | $bf | [species-ian] [rnd-name] |
| 192 | $c0 | [species-ian] [planet68] |
| 193 | $c1 | INHABITANT |
| 194 | $c2 | [species-ian] [rnd-name] |
| 195 | $c3 | ING |
| 196 | $c4 | ED |
| 197 | $c5 | D.BRABEN & I.BELL |
| 198 | $c6 | |
| 199 | $c7 | |
| 200 | $c8 | NAME? |
| 201 | $c9 | TO |
| 202 | $ca | IS |
| 203 | $cb | WAS LAST SEEN AT |
| 204 | $cc | .[ff] |
| 205 | $cd | DOCKED |
| 206 | $ce | (Y/N)? |
| 207 | $cf | SHIP |
| 208 | $d0 | A |
| 209 | $d1 | ERRIUS |
| 210 | $d2 | NEW |
| 211 | $d3 | HER MAJESTY'S SPACE NAVY |
| 212 | $d4 | .[ff][buffer OFF] MESSAGE ENDS |
| 213 | $d5 | COMMANDER [cmdr-nam], I am CAPTAIN [navy-cap-name] of HER MAJESTY'S SPACE NAVY |
| 214 | $d6 | |
| 215 | [buffer OFF] UNKNOWN PLANET | |
| 216 | INCOMING MESSAGE | |
| 217 | CURRUTHERS | |
| 218 | FOSDYKE SMYTHE | |
| 219 | FORTESQUE | |
| 220 | WAS LAST SEEN AT REESDICE | |
| 221 | IS BELIEVED TO HAVE JUMPED TO THIS GALAXY | |
| 222 | INCOMING MESSAGE[buffer ON]GOOD DAY COMMANDER [cmdr-nam].[ff] I am Agent Blake of Naval Intellegence.[ff] As you know, the Navy have been keeping the Thargoids off your ass out in deep space for many years now. Well the situation has changed.[ff] Our boys are ready for a push right to the home system of those murderers.[ff] [waitkey]I have obtained the defence plans for their Hive Worlds.[ff] The beetles know we've got something but not what.[ff] If I transmit the plans to our base on Birera they'll intercept the transmission. I need a ship to make the run.[ff] You're elected.[ff] The plans are unipulse coded within this transmission.[ff] You will be paid.[ff] Good luck Commander.[ff][buffer OFF] MESSAGE ENDS[waitkey] | |
| 223 | INCOMING MESSAGE[buffer ON]Well done Commander.[ff] You have served us well and we shall remember.[ff] We did not expect the Thargoids to find out about you.[ff] For the moment please accept this Navy ENERGY UNIT as payment.[ff][buffer OFF] MESSAGE ENDS[waitkey] | |
| 224 | ARE YOU SURE? | |
| 225 | SHREW | |
| 226 | BEAST | |
| 227 | BISON | |
| 228 | SNAKE | |
| 229 | WOLF | |
| 230 | LEOPARD | |
| 231 | CAT | |
| 232 | MONKEY | |
| 233 | GOAT | |
| 234 | FISH | |
| 235 | [planet6a] [planet69] | |
| 236 | [species-ian] [planet78] [planet7b] | |
| 237 | ITS [planet6b] [planet79] [planet7b] | |
| 238 | [planet7c] [planet7d] | |
| 239 | [planet6a] [planet69] | |
| 240 | MEAT | |
| 241 | CUTLET | |
| 242 | STEAK | |
| 243 | BURGERS | |
| 244 | SOUP | |
| 245 | ICE | |
| 246 | MUD | |
| 247 | ZERO-G | |
| 248 | VACUUM | |
| 249 | [species-ian] ULTRA | |
| 250 | HOCKEY | |
| 251 | CRICKET | |
| 252 | KARATE | |
| 253 | POLO | |
| 254 | TENNIS | |
| 255 | [ff][disk] ERROR |
| Index | Token | Message |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | ||
| 1 | THE COLONISTS HERE HAVE VIOLATED INTERGALACTIC CLONING PROTOCOL and should be avoided | |
| 2 | THE CONSTRICTOR WAS LAST SEEN AT REESDICE, COMMANDER | |
| 3 | A [planet72] LOOKING SHIP LEFT HERE A WHILE BACK. LOOKED BOUND FOR AREXE | |
| 4 | YEP, A [planet72] NEW SHIP HAD A GALACTIC HYPERDRIVE FITTED HERE. USED IT TOO | |
| 5 | THIS [planet72] SHIP DEHYPED HERE FROM NOWHERE, SUN SKIMMED AND JUMPED. I HEAR IT WENT TO INBIBE | |
| 6 | [planet73] SHIP WENT FOR ME AT AUSAR. MY LASERS DIDN'T EVEN SCRATCH THE [planet73] | |
| 7 | OH DEAR ME YES. A FRIGHTFUL ROGUE WITH WHAT I BELIEVE YOU PEOPLE CALL A LEAD POSTERIOR SHOT UP LOTS OF THOSE BEASTLY PIRATES AND WENT TO USLERI | |
| 8 | YOU CAN TACKLE THE [planet68] [planet73] IF YOU LIKE. HE'S AT ORARRA | |
| 9 | COMING SOON: ELITE II | |
| 10 | [planet74] | |
| 11 | [planet74] | |
| 12 | [planet74] | |
| 13 | [planet74] | |
| 14 | [planet74] | |
| 15 | [planet74] | |
| 16 | [planet74] | |
| 17 | [planet74] | |
| 18 | [planet74] | |
| 19 | [planet74] | |
| 20 | [planet74] | |
| 21 | [planet74] | |
| 22 | [planet74] | |
| 23 | BOY ARE YOU IN THE WRONG GALAXY! | |
| 24 | THERE'S A REAL [planet73] PIRATE OUT THERE | |
| 25 | THE INHABITANTS OF [planet6d] ARE SO AMAZINGLY PRIMITIVE THAT THEY STILL THINK ***** ****** IS 3D | |
| 26 | WELCOME TO THE SEVENTEENTH GALAXY! |
Copyright 2020 by Andy McFadden